Learning another language opens the door to opportunity. Whether you want to travel the world, explore new cultures, connect with new communities, discover your family heritage or conduct international business, the ability to communicate in another language can provide new perspectives, enhance cultural experiences and help you achieve your goals.
You have the option to take individual courses, choose a learning pathway to complete a credential or choose one of our shorter format Summer Language Institutes.
The content, which focuses on building your practical conversation skills and/or developing your reading and writing skills, is delivered by passionate and creative instructors in a fun and lively atmosphere. Cultural teachings are woven into every lesson providing historical significance and meaningful social insights. Expect to come away with a love of language and the desire to explore cultures and make connections wherever you may go.
Meet Catherine and Vinicius, two UBC Extended Learning language students, who share how learning a language has impacted their lives. One of our French instructors, Annick, shares her passion for teaching and how learning even a few words in another language can open doors.
Improve your Chinese language skills, enhance your knowledge of Chinese culture, prepare for travel and increase your career opportunities in this part-time program.
Expand your French language skills in this part-time program, and prepare for study, travel or doing business at home or throughout the French-speaking world.
In this part-time certificate program, improve your practical and business Spanish language skills, and deepen your appreciation of Spanish and Latin cultures.
Improve your English communication skills in this six-course program. Learn to communicate clearly and interact effectively with colleagues in the Canadian workplace.
Gain an understanding of basic French syntax and grammar in this online course, designed to improve your reading and writing skills. Read a variety of authentic French documents such as agendas, letters and advertisements. Broaden your vocabulary and produce simple and functional writing such as invitation letters, postcards, thank-you notes and small ads.
Improve your use of more advanced French sentence formation and writing style. Grammar topics may include the imparfait, the plus-que-parfait, and the use of relative pronouns. Become familiar with different registers of language and expand your vocabulary through weekly reading assignments from French documents.
Expand your French vocabulary by reading a variety of documents such as film reviews, online articles and press releases. Elevate your writing by learning to express your opinion and use more complex grammatical structures. Personalized feedback on weekly written assignments helps you improve your writing skills.
Develop the use of more complex sentence structure using all tenses appropriately and proper use of connectors and cohesion devices in Spanish. You will work on the use of all Spanish past tenses, subjunctives and other grammar content through powerful written conversational activities such as debates, presentations, cultural discussions, music, literature, and small group work using authentic materials.
Develop precision in your writing and differentiate finer shades of meaning in different Spanish speaking countries and in more complex situations. Work with different types of sentences and styles through powerful written conversations that include debates, presentations, cultural discussions, music, literature, and small group work using authentic materials.
Develop precision in your Spanish writing and differentiate finer shades of meaning in different Spanish speaking countries and in more complex situations. Work with different types of sentences and styles through powerful written conversations that include debates, presentations, cultural discussions, music, literature, and small group work using authentic materials.
Take the next step in learning Spanish. Read a variety of authentic documents taken from daily life situations with a cultural focus in order to gain an understanding of basic Spanish syntax and broaden your vocabulary. Learn essential grammar and produce simple and functional writing such as invitation letters, postcards, thank you notes, daily activities and small ads.
Improve your use of more complex grammatical structures and sentence formation in Spanish. Grammar topics may include introduction to subjunctive, simple conditional and the use of connectors. Weekly reading assignments from authentic documents that reflect the diversity of Hispanic culture expand your vocabulary and help you become familiar with different registers of language.
Expand your Spanish vocabulary and knowledge of Hispanic culture by reading a variety of authentic documents. Grammar topics may include the preterite and the imperfect, object pronouns and uses of ser and estar. Elevate your writing by learning to express your opinion and using more complex structures.
Address more complex workplace communication scenarios. Gain more advanced skills and fluency for negotiating, interviewing and leading meetings and teams. Practise your presentation and public speaking skills, and acquire the language and business vocabulary you need for leading others, teambuilding and training or teaching.
Dig deeper into how English sounds are structured to understand your own speech rhythm and patterns and how your first language influences your spoken English. Receive continual and immediate feedback in class to help correct common mispronunciations.
The American Sign Language (ASL) Summer Institute offers three language level options: Beginner 1, Beginner 2 and Beginner 3. Each week of an Institute condenses a 10-week course into five days. Jumpstart your learning in a one-, two- or three-week program, starting at the level that’s right for you.
Improve your French skills quickly in a one-, two- or three-week Summer Language Institute. Beginner 2 and Lower Intermediate are ideal if you already have experience with French through a conversational beginner course, or from your academic, personal or work life. Choose from online or in-person options.
Improve your French skills quickly in a one-, two- and three-week Summer Language Institute. At the Intermediate and Advanced level, you should be able to understand everyday, non-technical speech in French. Focus on improving your conversational fluency by acquiring more complex grammatical structures and sentence formations. Choose from online or in-person options.
Focus on improving your conversational Spanish fluency by acquiring more complex grammatical structures and sentence formation. Grammar topics may include the advanced level verb tenses (conditional, future anterior, and introduction to subjunctive), or use of relative pronouns.
